The SSRS Kostroma lies idle in the southeastern bay of Mended Horn Island. Only the front portion, the two forward masts and the front of the superstructure that sits in the center of the freighter's hull, is illuminated by a pair of dim lights that glow orange-red, a sure sign that the boilers of the Kostroma are dying, and the lights will soon go off. The remainder of the ship's funnel, and the mast behind the superstructure are visible only in silhouette. The gibbous moon and starry night that would have provided a clear backdrop to the black hulk of the Kostroma have been smothered by the overcast skies and light rain.
A sound comes, not from the Kostroma, and indeed, not from anywhere at all. A low, vaguely tinnitus-like sound that drains out the sound of silence. It calls to you. It calls to everyone.
"Come to the Kostroma, good soldier. Join us here. Come."
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
1370 replies and 53 files omitted.
>>194017
Something in his face suggests he does not appreciate Vir's humor. It must not translate well to whatever culture he is from.
"State your business here, pony."
Something in his face suggests he does not appreciate Vir's humor. It must not translate well to whatever culture he is from.
"State your business here, pony."
>>194019
>Img
You found a really fitting image quickly. Nice. c:
"Look, there's no need to be curt. I think we just got off on the wrong hoo... Paw? Talon? Whatever. Let's start over." Vir nodded to herself as if she just had said something very wise. "You see I used to have a pegasus friend and they are, probably, part bird. And I love borbs. I adore the budgie squeaking out, 'Pretty bird.' I want to brood on my own foals one day like a chicken does her chicks. Or coo softly as I'm feed seed by my master like a pigeon.
Vir struck a pose like pointer dog and pointed with her whole hoof at the griffin.
"That's why I hope one day ponies will enslave all of Griffinstone. So I can have one of you as a pet. But really, let's honesty. I would be the slave, as I would slave away making sure that your every whim and desire came true you beautiful raptor on four legs.
"You are not just a glorified seagull. You're an eagle!"
Proud of her amazing speech, Vir closed her eyes and held her chin high in inner mirth. Then she continued.
"As for my business, you see I'm a crow on a mission to bring back a gleaming piece of statue to a beloved one."
She stares at the griffin with wide, and pinprick eyes.
"So you see, in a way, we are both birds. Bird. Bird is the word!"
>Img
You found a really fitting image quickly. Nice. c:
"Look, there's no need to be curt. I think we just got off on the wrong hoo... Paw? Talon? Whatever. Let's start over." Vir nodded to herself as if she just had said something very wise. "You see I used to have a pegasus friend and they are, probably, part bird. And I love borbs. I adore the budgie squeaking out, 'Pretty bird.' I want to brood on my own foals one day like a chicken does her chicks. Or coo softly as I'm feed seed by my master like a pigeon.
Vir struck a pose like pointer dog and pointed with her whole hoof at the griffin.
"That's why I hope one day ponies will enslave all of Griffinstone. So I can have one of you as a pet. But really, let's honesty. I would be the slave, as I would slave away making sure that your every whim and desire came true you beautiful raptor on four legs.
"You are not just a glorified seagull. You're an eagle!"
Proud of her amazing speech, Vir closed her eyes and held her chin high in inner mirth. Then she continued.
"As for my business, you see I'm a crow on a mission to bring back a gleaming piece of statue to a beloved one."
She stares at the griffin with wide, and pinprick eyes.
"So you see, in a way, we are both birds. Bird. Bird is the word!"
>>194020
The griffin looks at Vir with a look of rage. Then concern. Then rage. Then concern again. Then all emotion drains from his face. His right hind paw takes a step backwards. Then his left hind paw. Then each fore paw. Slowly. Then much all at once. He backs himself through an open doorway, always keeping his twisted, horrified face locked on to Vir, but keeping his direction of travel in a straight line, away from Vir, and through the door.
He very quickly grabs the door and shuts it. Vir hears the sound of multiple locks immediately thereafter.
The griffin looks at Vir with a look of rage. Then concern. Then rage. Then concern again. Then all emotion drains from his face. His right hind paw takes a step backwards. Then his left hind paw. Then each fore paw. Slowly. Then much all at once. He backs himself through an open doorway, always keeping his twisted, horrified face locked on to Vir, but keeping his direction of travel in a straight line, away from Vir, and through the door.
He very quickly grabs the door and shuts it. Vir hears the sound of multiple locks immediately thereafter.
>>194021
>He just leaves
I'm laughing so much, my cheeks are getting sore. C:
That's also a great pic. ^^
>He just leaves
I'm laughing so much, my cheeks are getting sore. C:
That's also a great pic. ^^
>>194016
Silver sighs. "You heard them. If we leave them behind we leave them to mercy of Traveler and of GRU. We have no choice but to take them with us. If Kira's plan does work, we will also need them alongside us to purge Traveler's influence from their minds."
Silver sighs. "You heard them. If we leave them behind we leave them to mercy of Traveler and of GRU. We have no choice but to take them with us. If Kira's plan does work, we will also need them alongside us to purge Traveler's influence from their minds."
>>194026
>>194027
"The best way to purge its influence is to destroy it at the source. In the meantime, they will be less vulnerable if they put distance between us. Ideally the healthy should be able to decide the best course of action, but they have been looking to us for direction this whole time and it would be unwise to abandon them now. If we cannot convince each other, then we will have no choice but to let chance make this decision for us."
>>194027
"The best way to purge its influence is to destroy it at the source. In the meantime, they will be less vulnerable if they put distance between us. Ideally the healthy should be able to decide the best course of action, but they have been looking to us for direction this whole time and it would be unwise to abandon them now. If we cannot convince each other, then we will have no choice but to let chance make this decision for us."
>>194028
Now Kira speaks up, frowning. She sounds a bit upset. "The whole idea is to weaken the Traveler by freeing the creatures under his control. That's what the ponies said, right? He gains strength through followers? So by freeing his followers, he'll not be as strong for when we face him."
>>194027
>>194028
Silver also frowns. "Very obviously they do not want to be left alone. We are taking them with us. Those who can fight will be in front and back of group, those who cannot will be in middle."
Now Kira speaks up, frowning. She sounds a bit upset. "The whole idea is to weaken the Traveler by freeing the creatures under his control. That's what the ponies said, right? He gains strength through followers? So by freeing his followers, he'll not be as strong for when we face him."
>>194027
>>194028
Silver also frowns. "Very obviously they do not want to be left alone. We are taking them with us. Those who can fight will be in front and back of group, those who cannot will be in middle."
>>194024
Vir picks up the white feather. Takes a long sniff of it. She does her best ahegao face as she exhales.
She proceeds to place it in the first golden ring of the ones in her hair, buffalo-style.
Then she tries to find the right apartment, so she traverses to the fourth floor if that helps her find it a bit better.
>drawing is her mane style with feather, as good I could get it with mouse pad but I hope the idea is still transmitted
Vir picks up the white feather. Takes a long sniff of it. She does her best ahegao face as she exhales.
She proceeds to place it in the first golden ring of the ones in her hair, buffalo-style.
Then she tries to find the right apartment, so she traverses to the fourth floor if that helps her find it a bit better.
>drawing is her mane style with feather, as good I could get it with mouse pad but I hope the idea is still transmitted
Posey continues trotting across the deck, looking for any entrance to the lower decks.
Monstro swirls in the air behind her menacingly.
Monstro swirls in the air behind her menacingly.
>>194033
>smell
Mhmm. That's griffin alright. A little bit of sweat, and especially cigarette smoke. Maybe not necessarily from Vit's spiritual birb cousin, the splendid eagle, but probably from some kind of griffin.
The stairs creak as Vit goes up. The interior of the building is kind of cold and smells of mold. The wooden steps creak as she goes up them. She finds a door that has a hairline crack running down it, and a small chip near the doorknob. The doorknob itself has clearly been replaced at least once, or rather, the lock below it has. As best as Vit can recall, this is it.
>smell
Mhmm. That's griffin alright. A little bit of sweat, and especially cigarette smoke. Maybe not necessarily from Vit's spiritual birb cousin, the splendid eagle, but probably from some kind of griffin.
The stairs creak as Vit goes up. The interior of the building is kind of cold and smells of mold. The wooden steps creak as she goes up them. She finds a door that has a hairline crack running down it, and a small chip near the doorknob. The doorknob itself has clearly been replaced at least once, or rather, the lock below it has. As best as Vit can recall, this is it.
>>194027
>>194028
>>194026
Blackheel interjects
"Enough of this! Only those who are needed should be in the first wave on the ship. Everypony else can stay on the boat. It's in blackout, it should be hard to see, and easy to defend. They can have a radio to call if there are problems. We can reassess our plans after we've cleared a safe area in the ship, if such a thing exists at all.
>>194028
>>194026
Blackheel interjects
"Enough of this! Only those who are needed should be in the first wave on the ship. Everypony else can stay on the boat. It's in blackout, it should be hard to see, and easy to defend. They can have a radio to call if there are problems. We can reassess our plans after we've cleared a safe area in the ship, if such a thing exists at all.
Posey leads the way, using her darkvision to scout out any entrances to the lower decks.
>>194040
As a side note, what is up with this song. I just thought it was a dance song but it seems to be about some woman cheating and stuff. wtf. At least Macarena means soemthing like hope nad virgin which kinda fits with Vir.
As a side note, what is up with this song. I just thought it was a dance song but it seems to be about some woman cheating and stuff. wtf. At least Macarena means soemthing like hope nad virgin which kinda fits with Vir.
>>194036
Silver nods, and helps to usher the rest of the group inside. He'll help guard the rear. Kira tries to stay near the front where she can keep an eye and ear out for ambushes.
Silver nods, and helps to usher the rest of the group inside. He'll help guard the rear. Kira tries to stay near the front where she can keep an eye and ear out for ambushes.
>>194040
>>194041
I too, use silly knocks every time I approach a locked door at work.
The door opens slowly. At first it cracks open a small amount, and Vir can see a yellow-green face behind round glasses. There is a sound of a lock being undone, and the door opens, revealing a short, somewhat old mare. Her mane is grey, the skin on her head sags, and she squints briefly through her thick glasses before assuming a relaxed position. She has a mild smile on her face.
"Oh, hello. What brings you here, Mister? Don't get too many guest these days"
>>194038
>>194037
>>194039
>>194042
No obvious points of entrance but through the crew quarters. At least, in the middle of the ship.
>>194041
I too, use silly knocks every time I approach a locked door at work.
The door opens slowly. At first it cracks open a small amount, and Vir can see a yellow-green face behind round glasses. There is a sound of a lock being undone, and the door opens, revealing a short, somewhat old mare. Her mane is grey, the skin on her head sags, and she squints briefly through her thick glasses before assuming a relaxed position. She has a mild smile on her face.
"Oh, hello. What brings you here, Mister? Don't get too many guest these days"
>>194038
>>194037
>>194039
>>194042
No obvious points of entrance but through the crew quarters. At least, in the middle of the ship.
>>194043
"I checked the aft deckhouse and it was clear," he reminds the squad. "If we enter amidships we're likely to find company and make ourselves known."
"I checked the aft deckhouse and it was clear," he reminds the squad. "If we enter amidships we're likely to find company and make ourselves known."
>>194043
>I too, use silly knocks every time I approach a locked door at work
^^
"Mister? I'm a mare silly filly," Vir says before pulling back her hood and revealing her brown-red mane.
"Can't you tell, I'm so acute." Vir turns to the side, sits down on her buttocks, then lean forward so her torso and legs form an acute angle through her hips.
>I too, use silly knocks every time I approach a locked door at work
^^
"Mister? I'm a mare silly filly," Vir says before pulling back her hood and revealing her brown-red mane.
"Can't you tell, I'm so acute." Vir turns to the side, sits down on her buttocks, then lean forward so her torso and legs form an acute angle through her hips.
>>194047
"hehe, you sure are a character, young fellow. Would you like to come in? Have a cup of tea?"
She smiles
>>194048
>>194046
"The shortest route is through the super structure and straight down. That way was not safe when we were on. We would have gone around through the aft deckhouse and cargo holds five, four, and three. But there has been enough time for things to change since then."
"hehe, you sure are a character, young fellow. Would you like to come in? Have a cup of tea?"
She smiles
>>194048
>>194046
"The shortest route is through the super structure and straight down. That way was not safe when we were on. We would have gone around through the aft deckhouse and cargo holds five, four, and three. But there has been enough time for things to change since then."
>>194049
"You say it was not safe when you were there. How so? What dangers did you witness there?" Posey asks
"The repair ponies are noncombatants, and taking them through a killzone risks them being picked off one by one. However, detouring with severe delay gives the intruder more opportunities to mobilize monsters against us, so timing is key, and changes in the cargo hold may mean additional delays and unforseen dangers."
She pauses
"I had expected the Intruder to have a mind as tactical as the otherworldly spirits my masters conversed with, but perhaps I overestimated it and we are being too cautious. If the boiler dies everypony on this ship will be trapped on this desolate rock, including the Intruder. Since it evidently has not driven its flock to maintain its only means of transportation, then perhaps it is not so clever as it claims... Perhaps we are overthinking all of this and just trust our first guesses." She ponders
"You say it was not safe when you were there. How so? What dangers did you witness there?" Posey asks
"The repair ponies are noncombatants, and taking them through a killzone risks them being picked off one by one. However, detouring with severe delay gives the intruder more opportunities to mobilize monsters against us, so timing is key, and changes in the cargo hold may mean additional delays and unforseen dangers."
She pauses
"I had expected the Intruder to have a mind as tactical as the otherworldly spirits my masters conversed with, but perhaps I overestimated it and we are being too cautious. If the boiler dies everypony on this ship will be trapped on this desolate rock, including the Intruder. Since it evidently has not driven its flock to maintain its only means of transportation, then perhaps it is not so clever as it claims... Perhaps we are overthinking all of this and just trust our first guesses." She ponders
"The longer route for the cargo hold would pass by empty rooms that may provide spaces of refuge for noncombatants to shelter, an essential component in dungeoneering... But the Intruder appears to not require any line of effect for its summoning or mental control, so shelter poses little tactical advantage."
Posey stamps her hoof in frustration and wracks her head
Attempting an Arcana check to gain a Strategic Advantage, to see if Posey can figure out anything about the limitations of the Intruder's magical abilities (range, line of effect, frequency, duration, times per day, resource cost, etc), to make an informed decision about the coming battle.
[1d20+11 = (8+11) = 19]
Posey stamps her hoof in frustration and wracks her head
Attempting an Arcana check to gain a Strategic Advantage, to see if Posey can figure out anything about the limitations of the Intruder's magical abilities (range, line of effect, frequency, duration, times per day, resource cost, etc), to make an informed decision about the coming battle.
[1d20+11 = (8+11) = 19]
>>194052
"In all of my studies I have never heard of sparingly few monsters that had clairsentient telepathic awareness of the thoughts of creatures stretching for miles while simultaneously being able to summon seemingly unlimited monsters at such extreme range. Such powers render any and all military tactics moot, when our enemy can simply rearrange the battlefield on a whim. The only question remains is why it is not attacking us right now? Perhaps it is luring us into a trap. Or perhaps it is incapable of fixing the boiler ok its own and is waiting for us to do its work for it. Or perhaps its summons are not as unlimited as they seemed before..."
>>194049
She turns to Blackheel
"You are a mage, are you not? Have you observed any patterns in the frequency of the Intruder's summons that could help us infer the limits to its capabilities?"
"In any order, I say we go through the aft deckhouse and cargo holds. A path straight down through the superstructure is likely to be difficult for non-fliers and poses potential bottlenecks, and if it was not safe before it can only be worse now. To the deckhouse it is." She says, turning in that direction
"In all of my studies I have never heard of sparingly few monsters that had clairsentient telepathic awareness of the thoughts of creatures stretching for miles while simultaneously being able to summon seemingly unlimited monsters at such extreme range. Such powers render any and all military tactics moot, when our enemy can simply rearrange the battlefield on a whim. The only question remains is why it is not attacking us right now? Perhaps it is luring us into a trap. Or perhaps it is incapable of fixing the boiler ok its own and is waiting for us to do its work for it. Or perhaps its summons are not as unlimited as they seemed before..."
>>194049
She turns to Blackheel
"You are a mage, are you not? Have you observed any patterns in the frequency of the Intruder's summons that could help us infer the limits to its capabilities?"
"In any order, I say we go through the aft deckhouse and cargo holds. A path straight down through the superstructure is likely to be difficult for non-fliers and poses potential bottlenecks, and if it was not safe before it can only be worse now. To the deckhouse it is." She says, turning in that direction
>>194049
Vir popped to her hooves.
"That would be the second time I got tea today," Vir replied as she counted on her hoof, even though it lacked digits. "Last time it was in the Church..." Vir rolled off before she pointed one way, before quickly changing her mind and pointing in another direction. "That way!"
"Yeah, that was some good tea, then I set out on my treasure hunt."
Vir popped to her hooves.
"That would be the second time I got tea today," Vir replied as she counted on her hoof, even though it lacked digits. "Last time it was in the Church..." Vir rolled off before she pointed one way, before quickly changing her mind and pointing in another direction. "That way!"
"Yeah, that was some good tea, then I set out on my treasure hunt."
>>194051
"What dangers? We were on a ship in a mutiny. Of course it was dangerous. We noticed strange behaviors a week ago. Reports of nightmares. Trembling, a tendency to rock back and forth. Occasional lack of focus on the eyes. And then strange feelings. Some had apocalyptic visions, or feelings of doom. And some felt feelings of warmth and euphoria. Light Water had already begun his proselyting, telling everyone of what the thing could do, sounding a bit more like a street preacher than a professional. This was besides oddities taking place in hold two in particular. Stories of shadows moving about, of instruments being moved, of things seen in the night. More than one pony reported being visited by, shall we say, angels in the night. Alicorns, paragons, old deities...
I made the decision, in agreement with my superiors, not to allow the crew off in Sirius when we docked there. There was reason to believe their was treachery afoot. I did not realize it was as bad as it was, but with the fascist blimp tailing us, we had to believe there was an informant for the fascists somewhere, perhaps on the ship. We did not need to let him off. Then there was the very real possibility that some sort of psychosis inducing virus had been wretched out of the permafrost in the north, and that whatever had made that village go mad was slowly affecting us. That, and perhaps there were rodents or other animals stowed away with us. Possibly disease-ridden animals. A few ponies came on board at Sirius, and they did not go mad, except for one of them who slept near the thing.
When the mutiny came it came suddenly. Ponies did not wake up at the designated hour, sleeping late, and remaining in a catatonic state when you tried to wake them. You could see their eyes moving, like they were dreaming. When they did wake, they were zombie like, non-responsive. Or more accurately, non-responsive to us. They stared towards Hold 2, as if they saw something we didn't. The first, decisive actor was that damned griffin of the Skynavian Liason, Schattenwechsel. It was he who lead the revolt, or at least, seemed to. He took hold of the bridge and the upper most levels first. He had taken hold of many of the weapons of the armory over the night. I'm not certain how. I and several of the others had already set up in cargo hold four when we feared the main crew quarters were... infected, or otherwise compromised. He must have gone around on deck. I didn't see what happened to the captain, the old Salted Watch, but he was neutralized one way or the other early on. He was reclusive in that week. It must have gotten him, if he didn't show it.
And yes, we did see its first creations. They were... Like what, lobsters? Little monsters. Smaller than what we've seen since. We retreated from the crew deck into the cargo holds. There was some actual fighting in the mid and aft deckhouses. We did manage to cut off the ship's engines before she ran directly onto the island and sank. We made a break for it all at once with what weapons we had, storming through the aft deckhouse, the deck and then finally onto the boats.
Why would it turn on the boilers? It doesn't need the light. This ship is not very fast. There is no universe in which a ship like this outruns the GRU destroyers, the pirate torpedo boats, or the fascist blimps that are after it. There is no universe where its crew simply rolls into harbor, any harbor, and pretends like nothing is wrong. Not so long as I and my loyal few live. You don't understand. This thing is not like a wolf or a big cat trying to make a living on its own. It is a parasite looking for a new host. Take the life cycle of your average worm. It gets eaten by a little microscopic animal. And then it lives in that animal until it gets swallowed up by a much, much larger animal and makes its life in that creature's guts. it has no fear of being taken in by ponies because it's dealt with them before.
It doesn't want to run. Where would it run to? What would it do if it did evade its attackers? It doesn't want to fight off its attackers. Then what would it do? No, it wants to be captured. It wants to be taken back to Ravenskoye, or worse, to Petershoof, or to Stalliongrad. To Manehattan if the fascists get it. Like a Trojan pony, or a swallowed tapeworm larva hidden in the flesh of an undercooked fish. Because that's where its prey is. That's where it can pretend to be a dead creature and slowly corrupt the minds of all of those around it - maybe hundreds of thousands of minds - with its insidious dreams and visions.
"What dangers? We were on a ship in a mutiny. Of course it was dangerous. We noticed strange behaviors a week ago. Reports of nightmares. Trembling, a tendency to rock back and forth. Occasional lack of focus on the eyes. And then strange feelings. Some had apocalyptic visions, or feelings of doom. And some felt feelings of warmth and euphoria. Light Water had already begun his proselyting, telling everyone of what the thing could do, sounding a bit more like a street preacher than a professional. This was besides oddities taking place in hold two in particular. Stories of shadows moving about, of instruments being moved, of things seen in the night. More than one pony reported being visited by, shall we say, angels in the night. Alicorns, paragons, old deities...
I made the decision, in agreement with my superiors, not to allow the crew off in Sirius when we docked there. There was reason to believe their was treachery afoot. I did not realize it was as bad as it was, but with the fascist blimp tailing us, we had to believe there was an informant for the fascists somewhere, perhaps on the ship. We did not need to let him off. Then there was the very real possibility that some sort of psychosis inducing virus had been wretched out of the permafrost in the north, and that whatever had made that village go mad was slowly affecting us. That, and perhaps there were rodents or other animals stowed away with us. Possibly disease-ridden animals. A few ponies came on board at Sirius, and they did not go mad, except for one of them who slept near the thing.
When the mutiny came it came suddenly. Ponies did not wake up at the designated hour, sleeping late, and remaining in a catatonic state when you tried to wake them. You could see their eyes moving, like they were dreaming. When they did wake, they were zombie like, non-responsive. Or more accurately, non-responsive to us. They stared towards Hold 2, as if they saw something we didn't. The first, decisive actor was that damned griffin of the Skynavian Liason, Schattenwechsel. It was he who lead the revolt, or at least, seemed to. He took hold of the bridge and the upper most levels first. He had taken hold of many of the weapons of the armory over the night. I'm not certain how. I and several of the others had already set up in cargo hold four when we feared the main crew quarters were... infected, or otherwise compromised. He must have gone around on deck. I didn't see what happened to the captain, the old Salted Watch, but he was neutralized one way or the other early on. He was reclusive in that week. It must have gotten him, if he didn't show it.
And yes, we did see its first creations. They were... Like what, lobsters? Little monsters. Smaller than what we've seen since. We retreated from the crew deck into the cargo holds. There was some actual fighting in the mid and aft deckhouses. We did manage to cut off the ship's engines before she ran directly onto the island and sank. We made a break for it all at once with what weapons we had, storming through the aft deckhouse, the deck and then finally onto the boats.
Why would it turn on the boilers? It doesn't need the light. This ship is not very fast. There is no universe in which a ship like this outruns the GRU destroyers, the pirate torpedo boats, or the fascist blimps that are after it. There is no universe where its crew simply rolls into harbor, any harbor, and pretends like nothing is wrong. Not so long as I and my loyal few live. You don't understand. This thing is not like a wolf or a big cat trying to make a living on its own. It is a parasite looking for a new host. Take the life cycle of your average worm. It gets eaten by a little microscopic animal. And then it lives in that animal until it gets swallowed up by a much, much larger animal and makes its life in that creature's guts. it has no fear of being taken in by ponies because it's dealt with them before.
It doesn't want to run. Where would it run to? What would it do if it did evade its attackers? It doesn't want to fight off its attackers. Then what would it do? No, it wants to be captured. It wants to be taken back to Ravenskoye, or worse, to Petershoof, or to Stalliongrad. To Manehattan if the fascists get it. Like a Trojan pony, or a swallowed tapeworm larva hidden in the flesh of an undercooked fish. Because that's where its prey is. That's where it can pretend to be a dead creature and slowly corrupt the minds of all of those around it - maybe hundreds of thousands of minds - with its insidious dreams and visions.
>>194051
Captain Weary Weeks chimes in
"What does a god need with a ship?"
Blackheel looks to Weary Weeks but does not respond. Instead he provides the following
"Clearly its powers must be finite, because it attacks in waves rather than constantly. I noticed it didn't attack your group for a while, not until you made it clear there the negotiations were over. It selects ponies it doesn't like or thinks are a threat and attacks them. I assure you, I and my ponies were the recipients of quite a lot. I don't know exactly what its limits are. Forgive me if we haven't used the utmost scientific measurements to figure it out.
The steel bulkheads must have done at least something to limit its mind influence. Those who slept in the aft deckhouse were not as affected. Rotating some of the marines out of the aft deckhouse so we could have them secure the crew quarters was a mistake...
And it isn't omniscient. It can be fooled. It only knows what it sees or hears through the eyes and ears of those it influences. It's a pity it has spies everywhere...
>>194053
"The cycles have been... 20 minutes? On the half hour? It's certainly time for another cycle."
>To the deckhouse
Midship or aft deckhouse?
>>194054
She steps back from the door as if beckonning Vir in
"Oh what a lovely day it must be to stop for tea twice. What a big mare you are. A treasure hunter you say? What are you hunting for? A stallion. Must be quite a challenge to find one bigger than you."
Captain Weary Weeks chimes in
"What does a god need with a ship?"
Blackheel looks to Weary Weeks but does not respond. Instead he provides the following
"Clearly its powers must be finite, because it attacks in waves rather than constantly. I noticed it didn't attack your group for a while, not until you made it clear there the negotiations were over. It selects ponies it doesn't like or thinks are a threat and attacks them. I assure you, I and my ponies were the recipients of quite a lot. I don't know exactly what its limits are. Forgive me if we haven't used the utmost scientific measurements to figure it out.
The steel bulkheads must have done at least something to limit its mind influence. Those who slept in the aft deckhouse were not as affected. Rotating some of the marines out of the aft deckhouse so we could have them secure the crew quarters was a mistake...
And it isn't omniscient. It can be fooled. It only knows what it sees or hears through the eyes and ears of those it influences. It's a pity it has spies everywhere...
>>194053
"The cycles have been... 20 minutes? On the half hour? It's certainly time for another cycle."
>To the deckhouse
Midship or aft deckhouse?
>>194054
She steps back from the door as if beckonning Vir in
"Oh what a lovely day it must be to stop for tea twice. What a big mare you are. A treasure hunter you say? What are you hunting for? A stallion. Must be quite a challenge to find one bigger than you."
>>194055
>>194056
Posey puts a hoof on the shoulder of the winded stallion and gently pats him after he finishes his exhausting monologue
"Breathe." She says, calmly, in the same tone she uses to calm Gloomy's possession convulsions
"We will get through this."
>Midship or aft deckhouse?
Aft deckhouse.
Posey turns in that direction and continues walking
>No, it wants to be captured.
Posey pauses, then looks up at Monstro, looking over the herd with its torpedo
"It wants to be captured? Perhaps I may interfere with that..." she ponders
>>194056
Posey puts a hoof on the shoulder of the winded stallion and gently pats him after he finishes his exhausting monologue
"Breathe." She says, calmly, in the same tone she uses to calm Gloomy's possession convulsions
"We will get through this."
>Midship or aft deckhouse?
Aft deckhouse.
Posey turns in that direction and continues walking
>No, it wants to be captured.
Posey pauses, then looks up at Monstro, looking over the herd with its torpedo
"It wants to be captured? Perhaps I may interfere with that..." she ponders
>>194055
>>194056
>>194058
Cavaliere listens attentively to what the commissar has to say. When he is finished, the griffon replies, "Don't mind her if she comes across as rude; she can be single-minded about her goals. You made the right choices given the information you had. And had you known what threat it presented you likely had no options at sea. We will destroy this 'worm' whatever it takes. As soon as we step aboard we can expect an attack at any moment, and we will likely have another by the time we reach our target, plus the rest of the crew it has held in reserve. Good thing we have plenty of ammunition. We will have to make our approach carefully, entering via the aft deckhouse, and watch every angle."
>>194056
>>194058
Cavaliere listens attentively to what the commissar has to say. When he is finished, the griffon replies, "Don't mind her if she comes across as rude; she can be single-minded about her goals. You made the right choices given the information you had. And had you known what threat it presented you likely had no options at sea. We will destroy this 'worm' whatever it takes. As soon as we step aboard we can expect an attack at any moment, and we will likely have another by the time we reach our target, plus the rest of the crew it has held in reserve. Good thing we have plenty of ammunition. We will have to make our approach carefully, entering via the aft deckhouse, and watch every angle."
>>194056
Kira's ears perk up as she hears Black Heel talk about the Traveler selecting ponies. "I wonder if the Traveler is afraid of Ouroboros. I mean, I would be if I was an aberrant creature from another dimension corrupting His realm. The Traveler tried getting into my head to get me to join him, but I said no, Maybe it means this will actually work...please Ouroboros let this work..."
>>194055
Silver speaks up. "We have not seen much in terms of weapons used by Petrushkas. Some bolt-action rifles but not much else. If Schattenwechsel took weapons from armory, where else could they be now?"
Kira's ears perk up as she hears Black Heel talk about the Traveler selecting ponies. "I wonder if the Traveler is afraid of Ouroboros. I mean, I would be if I was an aberrant creature from another dimension corrupting His realm. The Traveler tried getting into my head to get me to join him, but I said no, Maybe it means this will actually work...please Ouroboros let this work..."
>>194055
Silver speaks up. "We have not seen much in terms of weapons used by Petrushkas. Some bolt-action rifles but not much else. If Schattenwechsel took weapons from armory, where else could they be now?"
>>194058
Posey pats the poner gently again
"Your input is valued. I did not even consider that the Intruder might have wanted to be captured by the GRU."
In case nobody noticed, I have been doing a running joke about Posey being obtusely concerned about ponies forgetting to breathe.
Posey pats the poner gently again
"Your input is valued. I did not even consider that the Intruder might have wanted to be captured by the GRU."
In case nobody noticed, I have been doing a running joke about Posey being obtusely concerned about ponies forgetting to breathe.
Posey leads the way to the aft deckhouse, taking 10 on stealth and carefully creeping through the darkness with the advantage of darkvision.
>>194056
Vir steps inside.
"Well, you see, the stallion is just the first step. If he is Mr. Right, then I will soon acquire the biggest bode that Equestria has ever witnessed," Vir says and gestures a mushroom cloud explosion with her hooves with fitting sound effects. "Then the biggest bode with be reforged with the greatest mind, it's the only one able to contain it. Then my sect sisters and I will revel in tea n' biscuits forever more."
Vir's eye displayed a firework of euphoria at bringing back the old god, the elder goodie.
"You see. It's not alive which eternally goons; and in sane eons even coltifornians may learn to drive?" Idk. ^^
Vir steps inside.
"Well, you see, the stallion is just the first step. If he is Mr. Right, then I will soon acquire the biggest bode that Equestria has ever witnessed," Vir says and gestures a mushroom cloud explosion with her hooves with fitting sound effects. "Then the biggest bode with be reforged with the greatest mind, it's the only one able to contain it. Then my sect sisters and I will revel in tea n' biscuits forever more."
Vir's eye displayed a firework of euphoria at bringing back the old god, the elder goodie.
>>194063
I'm tempted to have Vir tell random npc that she is part of the SS, or a secret group called the Sect Sisters that she just totally made up and that doesn't exist, just to see where that leads. ^^
I'm tempted to have Vir tell random npc that she is part of the SS, or a secret group called the Sect Sisters that she just totally made up and that doesn't exist, just to see where that leads. ^^
>>194064
>SS
I keep telling you that Vir would make a great ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎un Ninja. Vir could be a ⚡︎un ⚡︎oul Monk with levels in unarmed ⚡︎word⚡︎age, specialized in the ⚡︎etting ⚡︎un Discipline. Goes well with the ⚡︎un ⚡︎chool feat that lets you attack as a free action after using a ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎tep maneuver (among other things.
She could even be a ⚡︎hadow Guard, the elite ⚡︎ecret Police of the churches of gods of light such as Hieronous or Pelor (but also Celestia). Perhaps she may even be promoted to ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎triker or an ultra-elite ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎py: the ruthless ⚡︎ecret ⚡︎ect of ⚡︎isters most loyal to the princess who do her grisly bidding and carry the light through absolute darkness, and those who remained loyal to the princess even after her capture.
>SS
I keep telling you that Vir would make a great ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎un Ninja. Vir could be a ⚡︎un ⚡︎oul Monk with levels in unarmed ⚡︎word⚡︎age, specialized in the ⚡︎etting ⚡︎un Discipline. Goes well with the ⚡︎un ⚡︎chool feat that lets you attack as a free action after using a ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎tep maneuver (among other things.
She could even be a ⚡︎hadow Guard, the elite ⚡︎ecret Police of the churches of gods of light such as Hieronous or Pelor (but also Celestia). Perhaps she may even be promoted to ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎triker or an ultra-elite ⚡︎hadow ⚡︎py: the ruthless ⚡︎ecret ⚡︎ect of ⚡︎isters most loyal to the princess who do her grisly bidding and carry the light through absolute darkness, and those who remained loyal to the princess even after her capture.
>>194062
Posey has a modified 17 when taking 10 Move Silently
She takes 10 on Spot and Listen, for a modified 13 on each
Posey has a modified 17 when taking 10 Move Silently
She takes 10 on Spot and Listen, for a modified 13 on each
>>194066
I'll think about it fren. Thanks for the suggestion c:
Right now, I think it would be too technical for me. I even have scrapped that monk/barbarian concept. I just want a monk who's strong now.
I'll think about it fren. Thanks for the suggestion c:
Right now, I think it would be too technical for me. I even have scrapped that monk/barbarian concept. I just want a monk who's strong now.
Are there any checks we need to make to proceed?
Also, since the Intruder keeps being described as a god, I would like to roll a religion check to see if Posey can inter the scope of its rank and/or divine salient abilities, or if it really is a god at all:
[1d20+11 = (2+11) = 13]
Also, since the Intruder keeps being described as a god, I would like to roll a religion check to see if Posey can inter the scope of its rank and/or divine salient abilities, or if it really is a god at all:
[1d20+11 = (2+11) = 13]
>>194056
Vir puffed a cigarette and then sizzled it out in her cup of tea. The mare gasped at the display but couldn't help herself but knead her hindlegs together as if she was desperate for a piss. She fluttered her huge eyelashes at Vir.
"So investigator--" she began but as interrupted.
"Please, call me Dick," said Vir as her eyes took in the apartment. the pots and pans, objects nopony else possessed, revealed to her sluething eyes that the other mare was a absolute waifu material and seeing her longing for her, Dick, she could clearly make her into her housefrau, if only she could forget about that night already!
Vir unscrewed a metal bottle in her jacket and took a swig of booze to numb the pain.
"Okay, then. Uh, Mr.-- Dick-- Virgin, why have you come here?" asked the beautiful mare before Vir and blushed as she said the word 'dick'.
That put a short lived smile on Vir's face both because of the mare's bashfulness of something so minor but also because innocents hadn't yet died in this world unlike what vir had seen throughout her years of work in the force.
"I came to you, Ma'am, because new clues have made me pick up a cold case of the shelf, which I think you can help me with, " Vir said while looking moody as always. "I'm searching for a someone called GM Pony. He disappeared several decades ago after finishing a session of online dnd."
;^P
Dw, just kidding take you time ^^
Vir puffed a cigarette and then sizzled it out in her cup of tea. The mare gasped at the display but couldn't help herself but knead her hindlegs together as if she was desperate for a piss. She fluttered her huge eyelashes at Vir.
"So investigator--" she began but as interrupted.
"Please, call me Dick," said Vir as her eyes took in the apartment. the pots and pans, objects nopony else possessed, revealed to her sluething eyes that the other mare was a absolute waifu material and seeing her longing for her, Dick, she could clearly make her into her housefrau, if only she could forget about that night already!
Vir unscrewed a metal bottle in her jacket and took a swig of booze to numb the pain.
"Okay, then. Uh, Mr.-- Dick-- Virgin, why have you come here?" asked the beautiful mare before Vir and blushed as she said the word 'dick'.
That put a short lived smile on Vir's face both because of the mare's bashfulness of something so minor but also because innocents hadn't yet died in this world unlike what vir had seen throughout her years of work in the force.
"I came to you, Ma'am, because new clues have made me pick up a cold case of the shelf, which I think you can help me with, " Vir said while looking moody as always. "I'm searching for a someone called GM Pony. He disappeared several decades ago after finishing a session of online dnd."
;^P
Dw, just kidding take you time ^^
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